No defence?

[Jack Lad]

Is GM Larry Christiansen just wrong in his assesment of the position in this video?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1487805

[d] 7r/Qb5r/2p2qk1/1PPp4/P4Pp1/8/2R2PB1/2R3K1 w - - 1 41
41. Qa5! and Re2 both seem good enough to hold the draw.

[Jack Lad]

After Re2 here is an interesting position that may arise:

1. Re2 Qxf4 2. Re6+ Kf5 3. Rce1 Rh1+ 4. Bxh1 Qh2+ 5. Kf1 Qxh1+ 6. Ke2 Qf3+ 7.Kd2 Qf4+ 8. Kd1 Qd4+
[d] 7r/Qb6/2p1R3/1PPp1k2/P2q2p1/8/5P2/3KR3 w - - 16 9
What move should white play here and why?

See if you can solve this first without using an engine.

[Terry McCracken]

Is GM Larry Christiansen just wrong in his assesment of the position in this video?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1487805

[d] 7r/Qb5r/2p2qk1/1PPp4/P4Pp1/8/2R2PB1/2R3K1 w - - 1 41
41. Qa5! and Re2 both seem good enough to hold the draw.

I don't know he said. It's easy to go wrong, no matter who you are. Kramnik did and got mated!

[Cubeman]

After Re2 here is an interesting position that may arise:

1. Re2 Qxf4 2. Re6+ Kf5 3. Rce1 Rh1+ 4. Bxh1 Qh2+ 5. Kf1 Qxh1+ 6. Ke2 Qf3+ 7.Kd2 Qf4+ 8. Kd1 Qd4+
[d] 7r/Qb6/2p1R3/1PPp1k2/P2q2p1/8/5P2/3KR3 w - - 16 9
What move should white play here and why?

See if you can solve this first without using an engine.

White should play Kc1! and not Kc2? since Kc2 runs into Ra8! and if Qxb7 Qxa4+ leads to mate.And Ke2?! runs into Rh2 with decisive threats.

[Jack Lad]

White should play Kc1! and not Kc2? since Kc2 runs into Ra8! and if Qxb7 Qxa4+ leads to mate.And Ke2?! runs into Rh2 with decisive threats.

Well done Alex! Easy for an engine but not so obvious for us.

[Jack Lad]

I don't know he said. It's easy to go wrong, no matter who you are. Kramnik did and got mated!

He said that "after 38...f4 white has no defence" which is wrong because he clearly does:

41. Qa5! Qxf4 42. Re1 Bc8 43. Qc3 Qh2+ 44. Kf1 +0.18

http://chessok.com/broadcast/live.php?bcast=74&game=3#

Kramnik can be excused for playing Qb6? though since this was a rapid game but Larry should have taken the time to check it properly.

[Terry McCracken]

I don't know what he said? It's easy to go wrong, no matter who you are. Kramnik did and got mated!

He said that "after 38...f4 white has no defence" which is wrong because he clearly does:

41. Qa5! Qxf4 42. Re1 Bc8 43. Qc3 Qh2+ 44. Kf1 +0.18

http://chessok.com/broadcast/live.php?bcast=74&game=3#

Kramnik can be excused for playing Qb6? though since this was a rapid game but Larry should have taken the time to check it properly.

GM's aren't perfect, optically it looks grim for White, but yes 41. Qa5 should draw.

Kramink Kracked

[Terry McCracken]

White should play Kc1! and not Kc2? since Kc2 runs into Ra8! and if Qxb7 Qxa4+ leads to mate.And Ke2?! runs into Rh2 with decisive threats.

Well done Alex! Easy for an engine but not so obvious for us.

Where else are you going to put the King?? obviously Ke2?? is right out and the second rank allows for tactics, so obviously you're going to move the King back and opt for the draw...Black can only check with the Queen and nothing more.

[Jack Lad]

I don't know what he said? It's easy to go wrong, no matter who you are. Kramnik did and got mated!

He said that "after 38...f4 white has no defence" which is wrong because he clearly does:

41. Qa5! Qxf4 42. Re1 Bc8 43. Qc3 Qh2+ 44. Kf1 +0.18

http://chessok.com/broadcast/live.php?bcast=74&game=3#

Kramnik can be excused for playing Qb6? though since this was a rapid game but Larry should have taken the time to check it properly.

GM's aren't perfect, optically it looks grim for White, but yes 41. Qa5 should draw.

Kramink Kracked

Interesting the link I gave is also wrong because it suggests that 40... Qxf4 instead wins but again 41. Qa5! holds the draw.